[sremani]

I think this move effects Venezuela more than Russia. It is Venezuela that provides cheaper oil cuba in return for many services like healthcare etc. Now that oil is already cheap, Cuba does not need for patronage of Venezuela.

[joezydeco]

Putin was just in Cuba this summer to strengthen the oil business relationship and get more access to offshore drilling off the Cuban coast.

This seems like it's all a concerted effort to double-down on the embargo and slap Putin where it hurts the most.

[jpatokal]

You may have the causality the wrong way around here here: with Venezuela's oil revenues cratering and what remains of their economy after a decade of Chavismo spiraling rapidly downwards, it's unlikely they can afford to be Cuba's sugar daddy for much longer.

[adventured]

This is the correct answer. Venezuela is begging China for loans presently to delay an inevitable default. They were already in disaster mode before oil plunged. It's a smart move on Cuba's part to reconcile with the US.